Special thanks to BTP’s new Chairman of the Landscape Committee, Dan Kerinuk, for passing this message along. It is from Leslie Cassandra, Greenscapes Client Services Manager for Bell Tower Park, in response to questions from residents.
Greenscapes Plant Trimming & Pruning Practices
Let’s address these concerns about “trimming”, Greenscapes was originally supposed to begin services in March 2024, the start time for Greenscapes was delayed until May 2024, due to previous contractual agreements. During that time delay, it seems that there were lapses in any pruning services for several months and the majority of the property was extremely overgrown.
Greenscapes was initially instructed to shear everything, which delayed any hard cuts. Once it was agreed upon that shearing wasn’t the best option for the community, we began regular selective pruning practices based on individual plant needs, including hard cutting. We only hard cut certain species at certain times of the year as environmental conditions dictate. Many of the shrubs throughout the community were quite overgrown and becoming “leggy”. Hard cutting these shrubs is vital to the health and longevity of the plant! Additionally, it will push growth lower on the branches for a fuller, healthier plant.
We know it is quite jarring and unsightly when the hard cut is first completed, but ultimately, the bush will look healthier, fuller and if flowering, produce more buds.
In regard to why some things are hard cut and others not, we base that decision on the growth pattern and type of the individual shrub species. We understand why an owner/resident that has fire bush that has been hard cut then looks at a neighbor’s home and sees arboricola, viburnum or dwarf ixora which has not been hard cut would wonder why. The reason for hard cutting is strictly based on the individual plant species and condition, in this example, fire bush grows incredibly fast and requires a hard prune to keep it full and lush while flowering, arboricola, viburnum and dwarf ixora are extremely slow growing and do not require this type of cut. While it may seem arbitrary, be assured that the shrubs selected for hard pruning are based on horticultural best practices.
Additionally, in some of the communications it was inferred that we do not clean our mower blades. However, in fact all mowers are power washed at the end of every day when they return to our office.
As you are aware, stump grinding is not included in the contract and done on an approved proposal basis, we have the current approved proposal for removals and stump grinding for the properties and will begin the process shortly.
Hopefully this clears up questions about trimming, pruning and hard cutting. But if not please keep those questions coming.